Machine for connecting button shanks and fasteners



(No Model.)

B. M. MURRAY.

MACHINE FOR CONNECTING BUTTON SHANKS AND FASTENERS.

No. 389,238. Patented Sept. 11, 1888.

I counter or a suitable table.

UNITED STATES EDlVARD N. MURRAY, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IO\VA.

MACHINE FOR CONNECTING BUTTON SHANKS AND FASTENERS.

$PECIPICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,238, dated September 11, 1888.

Application filed January 30, 1388. Serial No. 262,307. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. IlIURRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Connecting Button Shanks and Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines used in attaching buttons; and the object of the invention is to automatically connect the staple from which the fastener is formed with the shank of the button preparatory to its attachment with the leather or fabric.

The invention consists in the construction, c0mbination,and adaptation of parts totheir respective functions, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a front view of a machine embodying my invention, in perspective; Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the feeding-drum and its immediate connections, as viewed from the rear; Fig. 3, a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of staple-chute and device for cutting out a staple; Fig. 4, a rear elevation of the forward support for the button-chute and the stop for the staples; Fig. 5, a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the button-chute; Fig. 6, a similar view of the lower portion thereof, with fragmentary views of the contiguousparts; and Fig. 7, a front view, in perspective, of the upper portion of a modified form of buttonchute.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A is the base of the machine, adapted to be attached to the From the rear of this base rises a standard, a, having a drum, B, mounted to revolve in a suitable box at the upper end of the standard. The shaft of the drum is provided with a suitable pulley, D, and is actuated by a belt, f, connecting with the pulley E, mounted on a shaft turned by the crank F. In the drawings the crank is represented as a part of the shaft, which is mounted in a box at the upper extremity of the standard Z).

To lateral arms a and b of the standards a and b, respectively, is secured a chute or raceway, O, for the staples Z. For convenience in construction and arrangement, this is made curved, as shown, descending with a gradual incline from the upper end, which terminates inside the drum B, to the lower end, which stops a little short of the stop d, which in the drawings is represented as a laterally-projecting portion of the forward standard, (Z. This raceway may be a simple strip of comparatively thin materiahon the upper edge of which the staple rides, and as such is represented by the part 0. In practice, however, I regard it as desirable to cover these staples while on the raceway to prevent their being accidentally dislodged, and this I do by means of a shield, O, which is U-shaped in cross-section and .wide enough to allow for the easy passage of the staples.

Referring to Fig. 2, the construction of the drum B internally and of its connections will be seen. The drum is provided with elevatorflights B B, which are preferably set diagonally, as represented, so that the staples carried up by them are naturally collected on one side, whence they are discharged into a hopper, 0. This hopper is not absolutely necessary to the operation of the device, but is adapted to increase the capacity of the machine for catching staples by bringing them directly over the raceway. In practice I make it a part of or connect it directly with the shield C, which, with the raceway 0, passes out of a central hole in the drum.

N is an inclined buttonchute, and is essentially of the same general nature as the chute 1?, into which the connected buttons are discharged from the machine, being in the form of a tube corresponding in crosssection substantially to the form of the button as viewed from one side, and havingaslot down it to receive the shank of the button. In its entire course the slot Z has two deflections, one near the upper end of the chute and one near its terminus at the front of the machine. It will be understood that the buttons are fed into the chute with their shanks downward; but as in this position it is not convenient to insert the staple into the eye of the button, the position of the button is changed the quarter of a revolution by giving the slotl a spiral course,

so that when the button is in position f the insertion of the staple the shank of the button is horizontal, as shown in Fig. 4. Before the connected buttons and staples'are pushed into the chute P the button is again righted by means of the final spiral Z in the slot aforesaid. This last change in the position of the button is not absolutely required, as it is evident that the chute P might be turned with its slot on one side instead of on top, when a straight slot in the terminus of the chute N would answer. It will be understood that when pushed into the chute P the buttons are outside and the staples inside the tube.

The upper portion ofthe slot l is made leading, so that whatever way the shank of the button may lie in the 'slot at first it is automatically brought with its longest diameter longitudinal to the chute.

The device for feeding the buttons to the chute N admits of considerable modification in construction. In the drawings two simple devices are represented. That shown in the principal figure consists of a receptacle, G, to contain the buttons, and a reciprocating finger, H, mounted on a shaft, 1, and adapted to sweep back and forth through said receptacle and catch buttons by their shanks on the outer end of said finger and bringthem to the upper end of the chute, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The pointed formation.

of the upper end of the chute is adapted to right the buttons and the springs ii to prevent their being carried back by the recoil of the finger H. The rock-shaft I is actuated by means of the pinion J meshing with the segmental gear K, which has a partial revolution through the medium of the connecting-rod L and the short crank F. device may, however, be of practically the same nature as that which feeds the staples. the same kind of a revolving drum being used in the one case as in the other. The chute is of course different from the staple-race way, and its construction is indicated by Fig. 7. The upper end is made spoon-shaped, so as to catch the buttons as they fall from the hopper or the elevators. From this part of the chute they slide down along the neck a, which has a central slot for the shanks of the buttons. The upper side of this neck portion is made quite thin each side of the slot, so that any buttons that may ride on it wrong side up fall off before they reach the tubular portion of the chute N. The spoon-bowl portion of the chute may also be provided with converging guides 19, the better to direct the shank of the button into the slot.

The buttons are pushed to positionv for the insertion of the staples by a plunger, M, connected with the lower portion of the segmental gear K, the forward end of the plunger operating in the horizontal portion of the chute. The buttons descend of their own gravity to a point a little above this plunger, where they are cut out one at a time by a simple escapement, m, operated by lugs e e on the plunger M. From this point they descend of their own weight to the horizontal part of the chute,

The button-feeding where by a slight contraction of the same they are prevented from going farther without the aid of the plunger. This contracted part of the chute has a lateral spring, N, which may be a portion of the chute, and is adapted to press the button against the opposite side of the chute. The forward thrust of the plunger pushes the button to the proper position for the insertion of the staple, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6, where it is securely held by the spring N.

The lower end of the staple-raceway terminates opposite the button as pushed forward by the plunger, the inner tang of the final staple being directly over the eye of the buttonshank. The construction of the device for forcing the staple down and through the shank of the button may be varied considerably. Two ways of accomplishing this result are shown in the drawings. In the case of that shown in the principal figure the raceway O terminates a. little short of the stop d,allowing the staple to pass down between them. The staple is prevented from dropping down of its own weight by means of a shoulder on one side and a light spring, 1", on the other. The staple is forced downward by a reciprocating plunger, 9, which for convenience in operation may be attached to the end of a pivoted arm, 0, actuated by an eccentric, F. In practice this plunger is made to descend as the plunger M moves back, and vice versa. Instead, howevor, of a separate plungerto force the staples downward,the raceway itself may be so constructed as to do this. In Fig. 3 the raceway is represented as pivoted at or near its upper end and adapted to be reciprocated in the same manner as thearm O. The forward end of the parts 0 and 0 enter a slot, 70, in the stop (1, the end of the shield G being made practically as thin as the part C. As the raceway is drawn downward, a wedgeshaped part, h, cuts out a single staple, which goes straight down, and as soon as released from the raceway drops into the final position. In practice the tang of the staple is made to enter the eye of the button-shank before the end of the raceway passes from under the staple, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. After the insertion of the staples the buttons are pushed forward by the successive movements of the plunger M.

The machine is designed more especially forthe automatic filling of button-chutes of button-fastening machines using such devices; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to such use, as the construction shown is equally adapted to the placing of the button and-staple in proper position for direct attachment to the leather or fabric. So, also, I do not wish to be understood as limiting the application of the machine to the connect ing of staples alone with button-shanks, since it is adapted to perform the same operation in connection with other forms of button-fasteners.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Inamachine for connecting button-shanks and fasteners, the combination of the hereindescribed revolving drum provided with internal elcvator-fiights, an internal hopper adapted to catch staples dropped from said flights, and a. raceway, substantially as described, adapted to convey the staples astride it to a position for insertion in the eye of the button-shank, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine of the class specified, the combination, with means, substantially as described, for holding the button-shank in position to receive the tang ot' a depending fastener, of a vibrating arm adapted to hold one or more fasteners near its free end when in normal position, a stop contiguous thereto forming a guide for the fastener in its descent, the pivot of said vibrating arm being somewhat higher than the end on which the fastener rests, whereby said end in moving from normal position passes out from under the final fastener and allows it to connect with the button-shank, substantially as set fort-h.

3. In a machine of the class specified, the combination, with themechanism,substantially as described, adapted to carry up and precipitate buttons, of a button-chute having a slot or groove slightly wider than the shortest diameter of the button-shank, and with a portion of its upper side contiguous to said slot or groove made with a thin edge, whereby the buttons falling upon it from the elevator above either catch by their shanks in the proper position to descend said chute or roll off the same, as specified.

4. In a machine of the class specified, the button-chute herein described, having a slot for the shank of the button with a flaring mouth at its upper end, whereby the shank of the button is righted in said slot, and with a spiral in its course whereby the button is turned partly over for theinsertion of the staple, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine of the class specified, the button-chute N, having the slot Z1 and the lateral spring N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the chute N, having the slot Z2 and the spring N, and the reciprocating plunger M, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of the chute N, the escapement m, and the plunger M, having lugs e 6, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a machine of the class specified, the button-chute N, having the slot Z, with its upper end, Z, flaring, as specified, a spiral therein adapted to turn the button on its side for the insertion of the staple, and a reverse spiral, Z, adapted to right the button before being thrust from the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a button-chute for a machine of the class specified, the bowl-formed upper end adapted to catch buttons dropped into it, the neck it, having thin edges contiguous to the slot, and a slot or groove for the shank of the button corresponding to the shortest diameter of said shank in and below said neck and flaring info said bowl, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a button-chute, the combination of the bowl shaped head adapted to catch the buttons as dropped into it, a flaring slot or groove for the button-shanks, leading from said bowl, and prongs p in said bowl converging toward said slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of the pivoted raceway 0, having the shield 0, adapted to cover the staples on said raceway, the stop it, having the slot It to receive the end of the raceway, and the wedgeshaped cut-out It, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD M. MURRAY.

Witnesses:

S. LEsLIE LEORON, E. BERGSTRESSER. 

